1. Exploring the Mysteries of Extreme Environments
The survival of microorganisms is tested in extreme environments, defined by challenging geological conditions such as igneous rocks, serpentines, limestones, and mud volcanoes. These environments have the potential to harbor unique microorganisms with unique metabolic strategies.
Over the past five years, our laboratory has been dedicated to studying the biogeochemical aspects of these harsh geological environments in Taiwan. Our research focuses on the Tatun Volcano Group, Taiwan serpentine area, limestone caves, and mud volcano eruption sites. Our goal is to explore the microbial-driven metabolic pathways of nutrient sources and the metabolic/resistant mechanisms of special elements in these extreme environments.
We are also investigating the geological bio-weathering processes that occur in these extreme environments, and how microorganisms play a role in transferring mineral components from rock to soil and through the rhizosphere to plants. Our series of studies provide valuable insights into the microbial ecology of extreme environments and the impact of microorganisms on the environment.
Join us on our journey to uncover the mysteries of extreme environments and the role of microorganisms in these unique habitats.
2. Discovering Microbial Interactions in the Mineralosphere
The mineralosphere is the zone of microbial colonization on mineral surfaces and contains the specific interface influenced by native minerals. Our lab is dedicated to uncovering the factors that play a key role in the selective ability of microorganisms in the mineralosphere. By utilizing an integrated approach including metagenomics, metabolomics, and in situ studies, we aim to explore the microbial community structure, interactions, and functional metabolisms in extreme environments.
In our primary study, we have completed the investigation of mineral-microbe and heavy-metal microbe interactions at the consortia level and their function within the mineralosphere of extreme environmental samples. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, we have analyzed the species-species interaction of mineralosphere consortium in serpentine rock, weathered soil, and indigenous plant rhizosphere soil samples. Our research has led to the discovery of novel functional bacterial consortia, such as Serpentinomonas, Mesorhizobium, and heavy metal resistance-PGPB groups, associated with the mineralosphere and their symbiotic relationships with minerals and heavy metals.
Join us on this exciting journey as we uncover the secrets of the mineralosphere and its microbial interactions in extreme environments.
3. Discover the Intersection of Earth Sciences, Ecology and Health with GeoHealth Approach
Uncover the connection between earth sciences, ecology, and health with the innovative field of GeoHealth. This approach focuses on investigating natural hazardous materials to mitigate their impact on geophysical, ecological, societal and economic systems. Understanding and predicting the intersection of earth and human systems, such as climate change, pollution, and natural hazards is crucial to our mission.
We started our academic journey by studying pathogens in the hydrosphere, geosphere, and atmosphere caused by human-made pollution. Our findings led to the development of strategies for investigating zoonotic pathogens, identifying potential waterborne and foodborne contamination sources, and distinguishing the genotypes and serotypes of pathogenic isolates from watersheds and their sources (such as livestock farms, municipal wastewater discharge, and aquaculture production areas).
Our sampling methods take into account various factors such as geography, hydrology, season, rainfall, and distribution of clinical cases to ensure accuracy. Our research also explores the potential impact of extreme weather events on waterborne disease risks, providing a deeper understanding of disease outbreaks and contributing to improvements in health planning, outbreak forecasting, and disease prevention.
In recent years, we have expanded our research to examine the impact of natural hazardous materials on human health. This includes evaluating the health effects of heavy metals and other harmful elements released from minerals on local residents, as well as the study of microbial drug-resistant genes formed under natural survival pressure. Join us on this journey to better understand the intricate relationship between earth sciences, ecology, and human health.
4. Combined Soil and Groundwater Biological Remediation with Geological Technology
Foreign studies have shown that the addition of zero-valent iron ore to TCE-contaminated soil and groundwater can improve the rate of microbial degradation of TCE by changing the redox potential and the electron acceptor. Our study builds upon these findings and highlights the positive impact of adding mud volcano ash to TCE-contaminated sites. Our hypothesis is that the addition of ash will increase the amount of methane and methanotrophic bacteria, as some of the pathways in the TCE degradation process share the same enzymes with methanotrophs. The goal of this research is to determine the optimal redox potential for bioremediation and enhance the rate of TCE degradation with the addition of mud volcano ash compounds. These findings could contribute significantly to the field of environmental remediation.
